First-year Arkansas head football coach John L. Smith has seen challenges off the field as well as on. (Beth Hall)

John L. Smith’s investment group created the Poplar Woods subdivision in 2007. Only a handful of homes have been built at the site. (Mark Friedman)

Residents and guests are reminded to “Have a Nice Day” as they leave the Poplar Woods division. Homes start at $650,000, but only a handful of lots have been sold. (Mark Friedman)

Poplar Woods failed to attract many buyers. (Mark Friedman)

Lots are still for sale at Poplar Woods. (Mark Friedman)

The abandoned offices of Canfield Development Co. in Louisville, Ky., as they appeared Oct. 15. The offices also were used as the headquarters for several of the limited liability companies that John L. Smith and others invested in with Canfield Development’s owner, R. Stephen Canfield. (Mark Friedman)